Meet Kshama Sawant, a 41-year-old college economics professor, and admitted alternative socialist. Kshama feels that some people aren't benefiting
from the city's declining jobless rate, ongoing recovery from the recession, and downtown building boom. Although she does have some good ideas, she
is a firm believer in rent control, taxing millionaires extra, and a $15 minimum wage.

If anyone here rents out apartments I think you know exactly what rent control does. As for the $15 minimum wage, if folks want to pay $10 for a Big
Mac, be my guest. You know I would like to see this woman's ideas get realized. Why? Because it will prove to be the perfect science project. One
where we get to watch the affects of socialism under glass. It is not too often that we get a politician that actually admits to being a socialist.
Cough cough hint hint...

I have also provided a video for those that wish to hear the views that won her her seat. In this video she discusses unfair evictions, the
environment, police intimidation and brutality, and oppression of political parties such as occupy and the Black Panthers. Most of this (not all)
sounds wonderful, be we have all heard this before.

She really does seem to have good intentions. But intentions and policy are 2 different things. And quite frankly I am prepared to see the city
brought to its knees if she gets her way.

cartenz
How can a $15 minimum wage be a bad thing when it brings wages in line with the rest of the developed world?

Oh, thats right--the corporate cabal doesnt want the US to be a developed nation; Its too profitable turning it into a 3rd world one.

There are college educated professionals making less than $15 an hour. How can you rationalize $15 for bagging groceries? The minimum wage should go
up, but not over 100%. Do you realize that there are ramifications to the economy for doing such? Or would you rather live in Mr. Rodgers Make
believe and think that nothing bad will happen, just like with Obamacare? Of course people would like a money grab, they will take whatever they can
get.

There are college educated professionals making less than $15 an hour.

And that's not okay. The 15/hour minimum wage increase if passed will only apply to some airport and hospitality workers, not everyone.

Oh ok so the college educated will make less than a burger flipper. Now that you explained this it all makes sense. I have an even better idea...
Lets pay everyone the same! Then no one would have to go to college to be doctors or teachers etc... Then we can all just fester in our stupidity.

The college educated are the burger flippers! Nowhere did I say that everyone should be earning the same wage... that's not what socialism even is.

Socialistic life jackets could just as well have lead weights in them. Instead of paying college kids $15 an hour to flip burgers how about using our
efforts for generating jobs for them in education etc.. vs. laying them off? Put our resources into minds vs. hamburger. Our children would learn
more and be better prepared for life. And the country would have more innovation which would stimulate job growth. Nah on second thought, here have
a free phone and rot your brain cells away. Ya whant fwies witd tat?

The college educated are the burger flippers! Nowhere did I say that everyone should be earning the same wage... that's not what socialism even is.

Socialistic life jackets could just as well have lead weights in them. Instead of paying college kids $15 an hour to flip burgers how about using our
efforts for generating jobs for them in education etc.. vs. laying them off? Put our resources into minds vs. hamburger. Our children would learn
more and be better prepared for life. And the country would have more innovation which would stimulate job growth. Nah on second thought, here have
a free phone and rot your brain cells away. Ya whant fwies witd tat?

edit on 16-11-2013 by elouina because: (no reason given)

A minimum wage increase is not "socialistic" nor are free phones and as I said the increase would not be for all workers. It would be an increase
for some airport workers and some hospitality workers. Jobs availability or lack there of is an issue with the failure of our capitalist system. I'm
not even sure what the last line of your post is even implying.

Just curious since I live near Seattle and you appear to present yourself as being knowledgeable on the subject of Socialism: In your opinion,
assuming you've watched the video, is what this lady is talking about something you would consider socialism?

There are college educated professionals making less than $15 an hour. How can you rationalize $15 for bagging groceries?

The minimum wage here in Australia is $15 per hour (read: what you get paid for "bagging groceries"), its nowhere near what I make, but if it were any
less people wouldnt be able to afford t eat/pay rent/bills. Its called a "living wage", anything less is called "below the poverty line". People who
work should not be in poverty--no matter how unskilled their vocation is.

The minimum wage should go up, but not over 100%. Do you realize that there are ramifications to the economy for doing such?

Yes, and with what I have mentioned above I can even use my own experience in my own country as an example. Hows your economy over there? We're doing
ok over here, a lot of that has to do with the economic saftey nets provided by our government

Or would you rather live in Mr. Rodgers Make believe and think that nothing bad will happen, just like with Obamacare?

OH NO THEY WANT TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE--THEY R DE COMMUNIST!!!

Of course people would like a money grab, they will take whatever they can get.

Usually those with the most grab from those who have the least. Capitalism is parasitic. Capitalists are parasites.

ETA:

Meet Kshama Sawant, a 41-year-old college economics professor...

I'm confident she knows what the effect on the economy a $15 minimum wage would have

The college educated are the burger flippers! Nowhere did I say that everyone should be earning the same wage... that's not what socialism even is.

Socialistic life jackets could just as well have lead weights in them. Instead of paying college kids $15 an hour to flip burgers how about using our
efforts for generating jobs for them in education etc.. vs. laying them off? Put our resources into minds vs. hamburger. Our children would learn
more and be better prepared for life. And the country would have more innovation which would stimulate job growth. Nah on second thought, here have
a free phone and rot your brain cells away. Ya whant fwies witd tat?

edit on 16-11-2013 by elouina because: (no reason given)

A minimum wage increase is not "socialistic" nor are free phones and as I said the increase would not be for all workers. It would be an increase for
some airport workers and some hospitality workers. Jobs availability or lack there of is an issue with the failure of our capitalist system. I'm not
even sure what the last line of your post is even implying.

A mandated increase of 100% of a persons wages is dictated welfare. It is one thing for government to glide things along with some minimum wage
increases. It is another to dictate that a company suddenly has to pay everyone double. Totally preposterous. Hello back to mother earth yet crew?
Talk about fudging with the gentile state of our economy...

The last sentence? This illustrates what happens to a society that is rewarded for stupidity. We need to start rewarding people for using their
intellects instead.

And another thing... I can't even remember the last time that I saw an adult working at Mcdonalds besides a manager. It may have been decades ago.
So yes, they are mostly all high school kids making some spare bucks. Talk about teaching the lack of initiative.. Here stay here and we will give
you lots of money for not finishing high school. Yeah sure...

A democracy, like in other countries, for instance comprises of several political parties.

Some of them on the very left spectrum, some of them in the middle, some of them on the right.
Among them socialists, liberals, progressives, right wingers, conservatives etc..etc..

So..are you getting outraged every time someone gets voted/elected who doesn't fit your personal views?
Is it so outrageous that you use a word like "admitted", implying it's something illegal/criminal or something "which should not be allowed"?

Oh...by the way...what's your problem with McD paying "welfare"? Let me put it that way..if McD would be a good alternative that someone who works
at McD can actually halfway live/eat....isn't that better than the money coming out OF YOUR pocket? ("Rent control" would also play a factor
here...Rent control + Higher Min. Wage == Less people require welfare, less money coming OUT OF YOUR POCKET.)

A mandated increase of 100% of a persons wages is dictated welfare. It is one thing for government to glide things along with some minimum wage
increases. It is another to dictate that a company suddenly has to pay everyone double. Totally preposterous. Hello back to mother earth yet crew?
Talk about fudging with the gentile state of our economy...

Actually, if a company is paying that much below market rate, then making them accountable with setting award wages that more accurately reflect
market rate is good policy.

Their was this "minimum wage" issue you guys had years ago--you even had a civil war over it. Government created legislation that increased the
"minimum wage" of plantation "workers"--are you now claiming that emancipation was a bad thing?

Right now we are hopefully slightly recuperating from what I suspect was a hidden countrywide depression. At the very least we were in a serious
recession although still in a milder one right now.. Everyone is losing their jobs and competition is high for them. Our economy is toast.

Plus now the middle class is being hit up with huge huge huge increases in insurance prices due to Obamacare. In come cases $500 a month or more!
Even the poor can't afford these new charges. In a year, all businesses with 50 or more employees will be required to provide health insurance. Not
just a nice inexpensive plan, but expensive ones that can break the bank.

So before you go talking up Obamacare, know what you are talking about. We should have insurance for everyone, but not this way.

I can see maybe an increase to $10 and hour. But anyone that would support a 100% increases in wages in the first place is crazy let alone on top of
obamacare. Talk about destroying our economy...

I don't have the attention span to watch the video atm but I've gone to the Socialist Alternative site and read their about us page. In my opinion
this group which Sawant is a part is more Socialist 'Lite'. It is trying to employ elements of socialism to bandage the gaping wounds of broken
capitalism. Maybe it can work maybe it can't, I don't know. What I do know is that true Socialism is worker owned means of production... not
privately owned and not State owned. Labor Unions are the closest thing to this where as a group of workers owns their labor and contracts it out...
unionizing at the workplace, for example if McDonalds workers decided to unionize... that would mainly be to collectively bargain for wages, benefits,
workplace safety etc.

I would say that Socialist Alternative is Capitalism with a safety net, which I agree if we are going to insist on remaining with Capitalism as an
economic method than we absolutely have to a safety net. All the benefits of capitalism have dried up and become parasitic. Manufacturing is gone, in
it's place we have consumerism but no way to sustain it. Everything is give me this now, everything is relatively cheap and we want to move, move,
move... our attention spans have shortened we don't want to take longer than 20 minutes to eat, we want to get our entertainment immediately. Retail,
fast food... is where jobs are, it's practically all there is room for, that being the case than it's probably true that those 'low skill' jobs
need middle class earning potential or the economy will continue to collapse. But stating this doesn't make it socialism. Higher wages for low skill
jobs isn't socialism, it's still capitalism... just less exploitive.

Not paying a living wage ensures that taxpayers are on the hook to make sure people aren't homeless and starving. Wasn't the promise of trickle down
economics (capitalism) that if a company is making large profits then it's employees will reap those benefits too? If Starbucks profited 12 billion
dollars why shouldn't their employees be paid above minimum wage?

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